Drought — Kennebec, Maine

2025-11-01 to 2025-11-30 · Kennebec, Maine

Event narrative

Kennebec County averaged 2.24 inches of precipitation in November, approximately 2 inches below normal. The rainfall deficits carried over from summer grew over 6 inches, making it the 5th driest stretch between July through November on record. By mid-November, while some areas saw slight surface moisture, the county remained entrenched in Severe (D2) to Extreme Drought (D3) conditions, leading to major federal disaster interventions. The USDM on November 25th had 100% of the county in Severe Drought (D2). On November 21, 2025, the USDA officially designated Kennebec County as a Primary Natural Disaster Area. Kennebec was one of the few counties to hit the Extreme Drought (D3) threshold during the growing season, qualifying it for the highest level of federal agricultural support. An estimated 13,613 acres of hay and 12,090 acres of haylage in the county were affected. The lack of autumn regrowth forced farmers to begin feeding their winter hay supplies in early September, months ahead of schedule. Roughly 7,764 cattle and 659 sheep were living in drought-stressed areas. Producers reported significant costs associated with hauling water as local farm ponds and streams went dry. Late-season harvest reports for apples and honey showed significant declines, with experts noting that the 2025 drought would likely stunt the bud set for the 2026 fruit season. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the streamgage at North Sidney hit the lowest flow levels on record for that time of year. This affected aquatic habitats and regional water management plans. While November brought some rain and snow, it was insufficient to recharge deep aquifers. Private well failures were common across the county.

Wider weather episode

November 2025 brought modest improvements to Maine's drought conditions, primarily driven by the transition into cooler weather and a significant reduction in vegetative water demand. While soil moisture levels showed the most notable gains, the region's hydrological recovery was hindered by another month of below-normal precipitation. Consequently, despite some localized relief, a large area of severe drought persisted, and streamflows and groundwater levels continued to struggle.

The arrival of wintry weather and colder air introduced the season's first widespread snowfall, with most of the state recording at least an inch and higher accumulations in the mountains. However, actual precipitation fell short of expectations; coastal regions received only 50-60% of their normal totals, while only the mountainous areas saw near or above-average moisture. Although there were broad improvements in the extent of extreme drought throughout the month, substantial long-term deficits remain. While November brought some surface-level relief from rainfall and early snow, groundwater levels remained below normal to much below normal. Because groundwater recharges more slowly than surface water, many private wells remained dry or critically low. It was estimated that an additional 6 to 12 inches of precipitation was still required to fully restore soil moisture and replenish depleted groundwater reserves.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1300358. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.